Lassa Fever: One confirmed dead in Lagos

The Lagos State government, Friday, confirmed the death of one of
the three cases of Lassa Fever in the state.
Giving update in Lagos, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris
said one dead victim was expected to be buried later Friday, noting
that the State has recorded 14 suspected cases of Lassa Fever as at
January 21.
He also disclosed that the Ministry has shortlisted 447 contacts of the
confirmed cases and 438 (98 per cent) of the contacts who are
currently being monitored.
Idris who was giving update on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state
along with the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr.
Babatunde Adejare, said: “Three of the suspected cases were
confirmed positive of Lasssa Fever. One case was confirmed on
January 15 and two cases were confirmed on January 18. Eight
suspected cases tested negative, while we are awaiting results for the
remaining three suspected cases.”
Speaking on the late victim, the commissioner said that it was a 51-
year-old man who lived in Ilasan, Lekki and returned from Edo where
he attended a wedding ceremony on December 28, last year.
According to Idris, the late patient was initially admitted at Divine
Medical Centre in Ikoyi on January 12, 2016 and referred to Mainland
Hospital Yaba early January 18, 2016 and later died at 2pm same
day before the result of the laboratory test that confirmed him positive
of Lassa Fever was received.
He said: “The dead victim will be buried today after due consultation
with the family and has been kept in the morgue in leak proof body
bag.”
Giving breakdown of the Lassa Fever cases in Lagos, he said the first
confirmed case at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)
and listed the contact line as follows; Ifako Ijaiye; 100, Mushin; 18,
Alimosho; 42 and Kosofe; one with a sub-total of 160.
Further giving breakdown, he added that contacts being monitored
are as follows; Ifako Ijaiye- 91; Mushin – 18, Alimosho- 42; Kosofe-
1, with a sub-Total of 151
For case the two at Mainland General Hospital the contacts line
listed is Eti-Osa- 66 and the contact line being monitored is at Eti-
Osa- 66, with a sub- Total: 66.
“Case three, Mainland General Hospital, the contact line listed is at
Amuwo: 220 and the contact being monitored is at Amuwo: 220,
Sub-Total: 220. The over cases, total figure for both contacts line
listed is 447 and contacts being monitored is put at 438.” he added.
The health Commissioner also stated that the Ministry has
established an Emergency Operations Centre( EOC) and holds a daily
briefing meeting at 6pm in the conference room of the ministry.
He requested for more Ribavirin injection and tablets and other items
from the Federal Ministry of Health, adding that there is need for step
up on community sensitization intervention.

Lassa wahala end time thing